Blog Post

Tile Grout – To Seal or Not to Seal?

You may ask yourself if sealing your grout is really necessary. Some think that it is crucial to preserving your tile. Others think that it is a waste of time and money. Here are three things to consider when making the decision for your tile floor.

Grout

Before deciding whether or not sealant is necessary, it is important to understand with what grout is made. Grout is a mixture of cement, sand, water and/or epoxies. For the purpose of this article, it is the stuff that makes those lines between your floor tiles.

What Happens

Now that you know what grout is, you can probably understand that grout is porous and liquids can and do seep into the grout. Over time, these stains can “set” in and may make it impossible to properly clean. So, if left unsealed, you could potentially be stuck with dirty or stained grout, you may have to re-grout it, or you might possibly even have to paint it. (Please do not paint your grout on your own… it’s not what you think!)

Grout Barrier

Next, it is important to realize that grout sealing does not keep your floors clean. It adds a sort of barrier that helps liquids to bead up and makes it easier to clean up spills. Similar to wax on your car. It also makes it so that you don’t have to have it professionally cleaned as often.

Opposite Views

Some experts say that it is a must. Other experts think that if you are fairly clean and have your tile and grout cleaned regularly by a professional, then there is no need to seal it. Some people believe that not sealing the grout leaves it with a more natural look. Others believe that it makes the grout look more polished when sealed.

DIY

If you decide to seal your grout, doing so on your own can be bit of a chore. You may wonder if you are using the right sealer. Did you apply it correctly? Did you use enough? It is time consuming and if not done properly, can leave a haze on your tile. Be sure you are aware of what you will be required to do if you do not hire a professional to seal your grout for you.

So, to seal or not to seal? There are those in favor of and those opposed to it. Hopefully, with these tips, it is a question that you can feel more comfortable answering. And that you can enjoy your floors, rather than worry about what they look like and having to maintain them!

About Post Author

Chris is an Army veteran having served in Desert Storm and a former law enforcement officer. He’s lived in Pinellas County since 1982. Chris is married and has four kids and four grandkids. He has been in the industry since 1992.